Adjusting fitting for tool assemblies for reshaping deformed automobile body parts



J.-W. GEDDES ET AL 2,586,158 ADJUSTING FITTING FOR TOOL ASSEMBLIES FOR RESHAPING Feb. 19, 1952 DEFORMED AUTOMOBILE BODY PARTS Filed April 21, 1949 INV NTOR5. LEE/EPW665416 5, H1 23 aFezfgu/saw Patented Feb. 19, 1952 ADJUSTING FITTING FOR TOOL ASSEM- BLIES FOR R'ESHAPllN G DEFORMED AUTO- MOBILE BODY PARTS John W. Geddes, Boston, and Harry (J. Ferguson, Melrose, Mass, assignors to H. K. Porter, Inc, S omerville, MaSS a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 21, 1949, Serial No. 88,836

3 Claims. (01. 153-32) This invention relates to tools for reshaping parts of automobile bodies which have been bent by collisions or other mishaps of use. It provides a fitting or accessory for use with a pressure exerting mechanism, characteristically a hydraulic jack, and a work-engaging tool which is pressed against the work by the jack. The particular form of fitting about to be described facilitates the proper presentation of the working face of the tool to the work or its readjustment as the operation proceeds.

The invention will be well understood by refer,- ence to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary View of the interior of an automobile showing a work reshaping assembly in position extending across the interior spaces thereof;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the fitting;

Fig. 3 is a central Vertical section, and

Figs. i and 5 are sections on the lines 44 of Fig. 2 and 55 of Fig, 3 respectively.

Referring to Fig. 1, we there-show part of an automobile body having extended across the interior space thereof an assembly of repair tools,

of which the device forming the subject-matter of the invention forms a part. There is there shown a hydraulic jack I0 adapted to be operated by the pump handle I2 and supported from some remote part in the body, not shown, through an extension 14 from the base of the cylinder. Secured to the ram l6 of the jack, in the case illustrated directly and without the interposition of any extension device similar to the device [4, by means of the fitting which is to be described, is a work-engaging tool 3 having work-engaging surface at its distal end adapted for the particular work at hand. Such tools of different forms are selectively embodied in such an assembly. When the jack is operated the tool I8 is pressed against the work, such as a, panel of the metal body. The assembly in many instances is then self-sustaining. The tool may be used to support the part engaged while that is being operated on from the other side of the panel or adjacent thereto or the outward movement of the jack ram may be continued to press the part engaged to another form. An assemblage as so far described, wherein the operating tool is in use rigidly related to the axial line of the jack is not new.

Such an assemblage is rather heavy and unwieldy. Often it is necessary to position it in tight places. Therefore after the tool has taken hold of the part engaged under pressure of the jack, it may be found that the adjustment is not quite what it should be. Also, after the part engaged has been partially bent a different presentation of the tool face may be required to continue the work to best advantage. In accordance with the invention, therefore, a fitting 20 is pro vided for coupling together tool and jack, providing for a relatively angular adjustment of the working face of the tool relative to the line of .extension of the jack, which adjustment may be effected when the parts are under load.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the fitting comprises a member 22, having an axially opening coupling portion, here shown as an internal thread 24, providing for securing the fitting to the end of the jack ram or to a suitable extension of the ram, and a cooperating member 26, having a socket 28 to receive the shank of the tool [8 or one similar thereto, the socket being here shown as of hexagon form to receive and hold non-rotatably a shank of similar cross-section. These two members are hinged together on a pivot pin 30, transverse to their length, which pivot pin traverses two supporting ears 32 arising from the member 22 between which is received a tongue 34 projecting from the bottom of the socket member 26. To permit adjustment of the socket member 26 angularly to the other member, for instance from the full line position of Fig. 3 to the dotted line position, the tongue 34 has a downward extension 36 at one side, which opposes a wall 38 extending between the two ears 32. A power screw 40 passes through the wall 38 and into a suitably vertically enlarged opening 42 in the tongue and meshes with a. female thread formed diametrically of a cylinder 44 which is rotatably received in a transverse bore in the tongue extension 36. The screw has a spheroidal head 48 engaging a suitable recess on the outer side of the wall 38 and is here shown as provided with a hinged handle 50 by means of which it may be turned. The construction described permits the axial line of the screw to accommodate itself to the swinging movement of the socket efiected thereby.

It will be apparent from Fig. 3 that if the power screw is turned the socket member 28 may be moved from the full line position, for example to the dotted line position shown, and thereby the manner in which the working face of the tool l8 engages the work may be varied. This is done without moving the assembly from its initial position such as that shown'in Fig. 1, and without relaxing the pressure of the jack. 0n the contrary, after the tool has taken hold the adjustment may be effected to correct any minor misapplication of the parts, and as the work continues further adjustments may be made to suit changing conditions while the parts are under sufiicient pressure from the jack to maintain the assembly in position.

The types of hydraulic jacks commonly used for this work are such that the ram may turn freely in the cylinder. This permits changing the orientation of the tool [8 in a plane perpendicular to the paper in Fig. 2.

We are aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and we therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, as is in fact clear in several matters from the description itself. Reference is to be had to the appended claims to indicate those principles of the invention exemplified by the particular embodiment described and which we desire to secure by Letters Patent.

W claim:

1. A fitting for mounting at the extremity of a linearly movable jack ram a panel engaging tool having a shank and a head, the fitting comprising a member having an axially opening coupling element providing for securing the fitting to the ram and a member having an axial extending socket to receive the tool shank, the two members being hingedtogether on a pivot pin transverse to the axis, and a power screw connecting the two elements at a point remote from the axis and having a handle for turning the same exposed laterally at the exterior of the fitting.

2. A fitting for mounting at the extremity of a linearly movable jack ram a. panel engaging tool having a shank and a head, the fitting comprising a member having an axially opening coupling element providing for securing the fitting to the ram and a member having an axial extending socket to receive the tool shank, one member having a pair of spaced apertured ears and a wall joining the cars at one side thereof, the other having an apertured tongue to be received between said ears with an extension at one side thereof, a pivot pin through the apertures pivotally connecting tongue and ears with said wall and said xtension opposed and a power screw extending between wall and extension rotatably anchored in one of them and having screw-threaded engagement with the other and having a manipulating portion exposed at the exterior of the fitting.

3. A fitting for mounting at the extremity of a linearly movable jack ram a panel engaging tool having a shank and a head, the fitting comprising a member having an axially opening coupling element providing for securing the fitting to the ram and a member having an axial extending socket to receive the tool shank, one member having a pair ,of spaced apertured ears and a wall joining the cars at one side thereof, the other having an apertured tongue to be received between said ears with an extension at one side thereof, a pivot pin through the apertures pivotally connecting tongue and ears with said wall and said extension opposed, the extension having transverse cylindrical bore and an opening transversely intersecting the bore, a cylinder journalled in the opening having a transverse female thread in line with the opening, and a power screw having a head at the exterior of the wall with a swinging bearing thereagainst and a threaded shank extending through the wall and cooperating with the female thread.

JOHN W. GEDDES. HARRY C. FERGUSON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Walraven Jan. 13, 1942 Number 

